5 Kinds of Monkeys For Anyone Who's Always Dreamed of Parenting One

You’ll be hard-pressed to find an animal lover who hasn’t thought about owning a monkey at some point in their life. They’re fiercely intelligent, wildly beautiful, and infinitely fascinating creatures, so it’s easy to understand why you might have considered bringing in monkeys as pets.

Primate ownership, however, is not something to take lightly. Unlike common household pets, like cats and dogs, exotic pets are extremely high maintenance. Bringing home a monkey takes a lot of preparation, in all senses of the word. Not only should you prepare your living space to accommodate your new friend, but you’ll also have to prepare mentally as well. Primates have lifespans that range anywhere from 15 to 40 years, so this is a lifelong commitment. Another very important thing to keep in mind: the rules to primate ownership varies state by state, so check with your state’s exotic pet ownership regulations to check the legality of this decision.

But if you've thought through the decision and found that the pros of being a monkey mom outweighs the cons, your next step to becoming an owner is deciding which primate breed is right for you. From Capuchins to Squirrel monkeys, these five breeds are the most common types of monkeys that can thrive in captivity.